Gnosis is a Greek term that means "knowledge" or "awareness". It refers to a special kind of knowledge that is mystical or esoteric, based on personal experience or perception. In most Gnostic systems, salvation is achieved through the "knowledge of" or "acquaintance with" the divine, which is an inward "knowing". Gnosis is often used for personal knowledge compared with intellectual knowledge. It is a feminine Greek noun that is often translated as "knowledge".
In the context of Gnosticism, gnosis is a spiritual knowledge that is held by the ancient Gnostics to be essential to salvation. Gnosticism is a collection of religious ideas and systems that coalesced in the late 1st century AD among Jewish and early Christian sects. Christ is seen as a divine being in the Gnostic Christian tradition, which has taken human form in order to lead humanity back to recognition of its own divine nature. However, Gnosticism is not a single standardized system, and the emphasis on direct experience allows for a wide variety of teachings.
The concept of gnosis was discussed widely and prominently in the ancient world before the Gnostics adopted it and tweaked it. It was probably most closely associated with Plato, who lived several centuries before Gnosticism first arose. Today, the ancient Greek word gnosis is usually translated as "knowledge," but for Plato and those who came after him, the term only referred to one particular kind of knowledge, not knowledge as a whole. "Gnosis" didnt mean everyday, ordinary factual knowledge. Instead, it referred to special intuitive insight into the ultimate essence of something.
In summary, gnosis is a Greek term that means "knowledge" or "awareness." It refers to a special kind of knowledge that is mystical or esoteric, based on personal experience or perception. In the context of Gnosticism, gnosis is a spiritual knowledge that is held by the ancient Gnostics to be essential to salvation.
